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Letter to the Editor

Sherwin-Williams Q3 Auto Finishes Sales Up 13%

Diluted net income per common share in the third quarter increased 12.2 percent to $.92 per share compared to $.82 per share in 2003 and $2.14 per share in the first nine months versus $1.77 per share last year. Consolidated net sales increased 11.6 percent to $1.7 billion in the third quarter and 11.9 percent to $4.6 billion in the first nine months versus comparable periods last year. Net income increased 10.4 percent to $132.9 million in the third quarter and 19.0 percent to $310.8 million in the first nine months.

The financial results include the operations of three acquisitions completed at various times since the third quarter of 2003 and the operations of two larger acquisitions, Duron, Inc. and Paint Sundry Brands Corporation, beginning with the month of September 2004. The acquisitions increased consolidated net sales 4.0 percent, consolidated net income 2.1 percent and diluted net income per share $.02 per share in the third quarter. In the first nine months of 2004, the acquisitions increased consolidated net sales 2.3 percent, net income 1.6 percent and diluted net income per share $.03 per share.

Net sales in the Paint Stores Segment increased 13.0 percent to $1.1 billion in the third quarter and 12.1 percent to $3.0 billion in the first nine months of 2004 versus the comparable periods last year.

The Automotive Finishes Segment's net sales increased 13.6 percent to $130.8 million in the third quarter and 11.6 percent to $382.6 million in the first nine months versus the comparable periods last year. Currency exchange fluctuations relative to last year had only a minor impact on net sales of this Segment in the third quarter and first nine months of 2004. The net sales gains were primarily due to new product introductions, improving international sales and the April 2004 acquisition of a majority interest in a foreign automotive coatings company.

Operating profit in this Segment improved 19.7 percent to $14.8 million in the third quarter and 13.8 percent to $43.1 million in the first nine months. This Segment's operating profit in the third quarter and first nine months improved primarily due to the sales increases, sales of higher margin new products, improvements in the international business units and profits of the foreign acquisition that more than offset the effect of increasing raw material costs.

Net sales in the International Coatings Segment, stated in U.S. dollars, increased 18.2 percent to $80.7 million in the third quarter and 19.7 percent to $233.2 million in the first nine months versus the comparable periods last year.

The company purchased 1,800,000 shares of its common stock during the third quarter of 2004 bringing the total purchased to 5,150,000 shares for the first nine months. The company had remaining authorization at September 30, 2004 to purchase 11,873,000 shares.

Commenting on the company's operating results for the third quarter and first nine months of 2004, Christopher M. Connor, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, "We continue to be encouraged by the strength of the Paint Stores Segment's architectural, product finishes and industrial maintenance paint sales. In its first month of combined operations with our Paint Stores Segment, Duron contributed to the strong performance achieved by that Segment.

"In the Consumer Segment, we are concerned about the continuing moderate paint sales to some of our retail customers. The acquisitions made since the third quarter of 2003 favorably impacted the net sales and operating profit of this Segment but could not overcome the sluggishness of the core business in the third quarter. The cost containment efforts implemented over the past few years helped the Consumer Segment's operating profit but could not completely offset the effects of significantly increasing raw material costs.

"Domestically, our Automotive Finishes Segment's sales continue to grow through new product introductions and the opening of new branches. We are encouraged by the improving operations of the international portions of our Automotive Finishes Segment. In the International Coatings Segment, we are pleased with the sales and operational progress and are encouraged by our local management teams' initiation of actions to improve profitability.

"Due to the strong level of sales and profits experienced in the last half of 2003 and the raw material cost increases we are currently experiencing, year-over-year consolidated net sales and profit comparisons are more challenging. We will continue to launch new products, actively pursue new customers, open stores and increase the productivity of our operations to improve sales and operating income in all operating segments of our business. We anticipate that fourth quarter net sales will increase in the low double digits versus last year's fourth quarter partially helped by the recently completed acquisitions. With increased net sales at that level, we expect diluted net income per common share in the fourth quarter will be in the range of $.48 to $.52 per share compared to $.48 per share earned in last year's fourth quarter. We commented on July 22, 2004 that we expected our annual net sales increase for 2004 would be in high single digits over 2003 and diluted net income per common share for the year 2004 to be in the range of $2.58 to $2.66 per share. We now expect our annual sales increase will be in the low double digits range and diluted net income per common share for the year 2004 to be in the range of $2.62 to $2.66 per share compared to $2.26 per share earned in 2003."

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